Building structure



Dec, 4, 1945. J. H. BROWN BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 10, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. H. BROWN Dec; 4, "1945.

BUILDING STRUCTURE a Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed Aug, 10, 194

J. H. BROWN BUILDING STRUCTURE Dec. 4, 1945.

Filed Aug. 10, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 4, 1945 BUILDING STRUCTURE John H. Brown, Houston, Tex., assignor of onefourth to Charles J. Angell, Monroe, La.

Application August 10, 1944, Serial No. 548,858

7 Claims.

This invention pertains to a building structure and more particularly to a framework therefor.

An object of the invention is the provision of a skeletonized interlocking framework adapted to be employed in the construction of a building or structure of an arch type.

Another object of the invention is the provision .of an arch type interlocking framework for a building and which will require a minimum of skilled labor and employ maximum of unskilled labor in erecting.

A further object of. the invention is to provide,

' in a building orstructure, an arch type, prefabricated (or site fabricated), interlocking framework to present a strong, inexpensive, sturdy and self-supported structure, employing a minimum of material.

The above as well as other numerous objects will become apparent from the succeeding description considered together with the accompanying drawings which disclose an exemplified form of the invention and wherein:

Figure l is a transverse sectional View taken through a building embodying the present invention and showing in elevation the various ribs making up the skeletonized framework.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view with the center section removed and taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of i the framework having applied thereto a section of roofing material.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts,

the numeral I is employed to indicate, in a somewhat general manner, a framework of the present invention. The framework may, if it is desired, be supported by the usual foundation or footings 2 of monolithic form or any other suitable floor or base such as a wooden platform (not shown) or the like which, of course, will depend entirely on the size of the building and the intended use thereof. It will, of course, be appreciated from the very outset that the basic and illustrated design will be the same whether the building to be erected is small or relatively larger and that the onl variation anticipated will result in the proportion of the various components of the framework depending of course on the sizeof the building.

Forming the main supporting elements and what might be termed the base components of the framework, are a plurality of arch type, master ribs 3 disposed at regular predetermined or spaced intervals longitudinally of the framework. Each master rib, as will be noted by referring particularly to Figure l of the drawings, is desirably of semi-circular configuration preferably extending through an arc of 180 degrees, thereby presenting a self-supported, unreinforced, firm or rigid member extending transversely of the building. Each master rib has its opposite freeend 4 associated with the transverse limits of the foundation or footings. Each master rib extremity is desirably encased in a U-shaped clip or anchor plate 5 comprising a base 6 firmly secured to the foundation through the medium of bolts or the like. The base '5 terminates at its opposite extremities in upstanding legs I which overlie or telescope the associated free extremity of the master rib to be secured thereto by bolts 8 or lag screws or any other desired securing means.

Each arch type master rib comprises generally an arcuate inner section 9 spaced from an arcuate outer section It) with both sections being coaxial for their entire extent. The sections are preferably each made up in a mill preparatory to shipment to the site of the building, or may be easily fabricated at the said site, and comprise a plurality of laminated boards or lumber either glued,

bolted or nailed together or a combination of two or all with the laminations extending longitudinally of the master ribs so that each section comprises a plurality of parallel superimposed interlocked boards of any given or equal dimensions in cross section. For simplicity and con- Venience in construction, the inner and outer sections are identical in cross sectional area. that is to say, each section may have a depth or thickness of two or more boards of identical cross section so that the sections when assembled in a master rib will be in radial alignment and substantial counterparts of one another with of course the exception that the outer section will be of greater curvature than the inner section.

Positioned at regular or predetermined intervals throughout the length of the master ribs are a plurality of blocks, spacers or separators H which, like the inner and'outer sections, for the purpose of adding strength or rigidity thereto, are preferably made up of laminated boards or lumber. The separators are prearranged along the length of the master ribs with the distance between adjacent separators depending upon the depth of the master ribs and the thickness of the inner and outer sections; the latter of which, as previously indicated, are designed in proportion to the span of the master ribs. While the separators may be made of a single block of wood or laminated sections of lumber, it will also be appreciated that if desired these components may be of steel and channel or C shaped in section just so long-as they form a means for maintaining the inner and outer sections in a predetermined relaticnship and for a further function to be ereinafter explained.

In the illustrated form of the invention, the

. wooden separators are provided with coaxial, ar-

cuate, oppositely facing, spaced inner and outer surfaces l2 which bear against, in surface bearing relation, spaced coaxial facing surfaces [3 on the inner and outer sections. The separators are desirably in radial alignment with the inner and outer sections being therefore of the same thickness as the sections and are secured firmly in place by .means of bolts 14 or any other desired attaching means which extend through the sections and separators. each bolt are arranged to bear on washers (not shown) set in counter-bores so that the extreme inner and outer faces of the master beam will not have any obstructions outstanding therefrom.

It will ,benoted from the above that each master rib is prefabricated at the mill as a sturdy, light, arch type truss which may at the ite of erection, be set up without benefit of scaffolding and complicated, expensive equipment, and presents a free standing key component not depending on additional reinforcing braces or tie means for rigidity.

Functioning in part as connecting means for the master ribs are a plurality of prefabricated longitudinally extending purlins l5 which are desirably laminated and preferably made up by .two or more boards glued. nailed or otherwise secured together. locking means for the master ribs, are of a width equal to the distance between the inner and outer sections so as to fit neatly therebetween and are arranged, with one exception, to be associated with alternate separators of each master rib but may, if required for structural reasons, he associated with each separator. The exception is in the case of the crown, center or uppermost separator l6 which has preferably purlins I! .associated with both sides thereof so that the dual purlins will function as a ridge beam. By thus forming the purlins the latter are also a medium by which the master ribs are, aligned longitudinally of the building and thereby obviate the necessity of employing skilled labor for the erection of a building. By laminating the purlins they are not only reinforced against stresses to which they will be subjected in a building structure but by allowing an end of one lamination to overhang the adjacent end of another lamination the ends of contiguous purlins may be easily spliced in overlapping relation at a separator as purlins may be nailed, bolted or otherwise attached to all of the separators.

The head and nut of The purlins, forming interpurlins.

other medium or combination-thereof. The cross sectional area of the intermediate ribs are similar or identical in proportion to the outer section of the master ribs and the section size depends upon the spacing of the purlins since the latter are in supporting relation to the intermediate ribs. Any type of securing means may be employed to attach the intermediate ribs to the The free opposite or lower extremities of each intermediate rib has an angle-shaped clip 20 associated therewith so that a horizontal leg 2| thereof may be anchored to the foundation while a vertical leg 22 is bolted or otherwise secured to the intermediate rib and this arrangement assists in maintaining the intermediate rib in a predetermined position.

As will be noted, the outer surfaces of the master and intermediate ribs are a smooth, uninterrupted or unbroken arcuate and longitudinal alignment and, in this arrangement, the ribs may receive any of the usual or commercial types of roofing, sheathing, materials, or; compositions such as 2-3 shown in Figure 5 and any of the.

covering medium may be applied horizontally, diagonally or in prefabricated panel form. Also due to the skeletonized and light form of the framework the necessity of having expensive and elaborate foundations has been greatly reduced or in small structures el minated entirely and because of the prefabrication of the various components and the interlocking feature of the framework only a minimum of labor is required to com letely assemble a building embodying the present invention.

From the above description and accompanying drawin s it will be noted that various changes and alterations may be made to the illustrated and described construction without departing from within the spirit of the inventionandscope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a building, the combinationof, a plurality of semi-circular arch type master ribs comprising inner and outer parallel sections, separatormeans disposed in spaced relation along and interposed between said sections, means securing said sections to sa d separator means. purlins extending lon itudinally of said building and being of a width corresponding to the distance between said' sections, means securing said purlins to said separator means, and semi-circular intermediate ribs disposed between said master ribs in spaced parallel relation thereto; the depth :of said inter mediate ribs corresponding to the depth of said outer'sections.

2. In a building, the combination of, a plurality of semi-circular arch type master ribs comprising equally spaced inner and outer sections, separator means within the confines of said inner and outer sections, tie means extending through said inner and outer sections into said separator means, laminated purlins extending longitudinally of said building and being of a width equal to the distance between said inner and outer sections, means securing said longitudinal purlins to said separator means, and semi-circular intermediate ribs equal to said outer sections disposed between said master ribs and supported by said laminated purlins.

3. In an interlocking framework for a building structure, the combination of, a foundation, semicircular arch type master ribs having opposite ends supported by said foundation, said master ribs comprising inner and outer sections spaced equally for their entire length, separators spaced along the length of said master ribs and being disposed within th confines of said inner and outer sections, securing means extending through said sections and separators, purlins extending longitudinally of said framework and being secured to said separators, said purlins being of a height equal to said separators, semi-circular arch type intermediate ribs disposed in parallel relation to and intermediate said master ribs, said intermediate ribs being of a height equal to said outer ribs, and means securing said intermediate ribs to said purlins.

4. In an interlocking framework for a building structure, the combination of, horizontally aligned arch type master ribs comprising vertically aligned and equally spaced inner and outer sections, separators spaced along the entire length of said master ribs and being disposed between said inner and outer sections entirely within the confines thereof, securing means extending through said sections into said separators, laminated purlins extending longitudinally of said framework and being secured to said separators, the laminations of longitudinally aligned purlins overlapping atsdme of said separators, arch type intermediate ribs disposed longitudinally of said framework and supported between said master ribs by said laminated purlins, said intermediate ribs being of the same proportions as said outer sections, and means securin said intermediate ribs to said laminated purlins.

5. In an interlocking framework for a building structure, the combination of, arch type master ness to said sections being disposed between and secured to said sections, laminated purlins of a width equal to a distance between said inner and outer sections spanning said master ribs and being secured to said separators, lamina'tions of longitudinally aligned purlins overlapping at some of said separators, and arch type intermediate ribs disposed between said master ribs and being secured to said laminated purlins; said intermediate ribs being counterparts of said outer sections.

6. In an interlocking framework for'a building structure, the combination of, a plurality of arch type master ribs comprising coaxial transversely aligned inner and outer sections, separators of a thickness equal to said sections having surfaces coaxial with said master ribs, means securing said separators to said inner and outer sections, purlins extending longitudinally of said framework and secured to said separators, said purlins having outer surfaces bearing against inner surfaces of said outer sections, and a plurality of intermediate ribs between adjacent master ribs coaxial with said master ribs and being secured to said purlins; said intermediate ribs being of the same size or proportion as said outer sections.

7. In an interlocking framework for a building structure, the combination of, a pair of arch type semi-circular master ribs comprising coaxial laminated inner and outer sections of the same cross sectional area, separators of a thickness equal to said sections and having oppositely facing coaxial surfaces in intimate contact with correspondingly formed surfaces on said sections, said separators being positioned between said sections and secured thereto, laminated purlins spanning said master ribs and being of a size to fit between said sections, means securing said purlins to said separators, and spaced laminated intermediate semi-circular ribs between and parallel with said master ribs; said intermediate ribs being supported by said purlins and being counterparts of said outer sections.

JOHN H. BROWN. 

